Health Factors Contribute to Early Retirement Among Canadians

According to a long-term study, Canadian workers with health problems are more likely to retire before the age of 65, in comparison to those who are healthy.

The study, which began in 1994, found that by 2006, 35 per cent of participants who reported poor or fair health between the ages of 40 and 52 had left work by 64 years of age. Of the workers who reported excellent or very good health in 1994, only 16 per cent had retired by 2006.

For men, factors such as smoking, heavy drinking and physically demanding jobs contributed to early retirement, while women were more likely to retire early if suffering from obesity or high-strain jobs.